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I'm curious, who is "we"? What's all the hubub about the public option and single payer? You're moving towards it, of that there's no doubt.



"We" would be the citizens of the United States. It is a certain subset of the population, but obviously not everyone is convinced of a single tier, universal solution at this point in time or perhaps any time in the future. Now, if we thought that the same system was such a fantastic idea, I don't think that the pols would have taken the beating that they did from their constituents this summer. Honestly, if the Dems intentions about enacting health insurance reform was genuine, they wouldn't have taken the approach that they did. They should have collectively read a few "how-to" books on sales. You don't try and ram something as important as this down people's throats and expect them to blindly accept it. Perhaps they are that myopic. I don't know.

There, in my eyes, and in the eyes of some others, are many problems with the public option. The government really has no business running health care for one thing. Another is that over time it will likely lead to less competition and eventually no choice for the citizens. The government will not play fair and will drive the competition out of business. Personally, I can forsee the quality of health care declining as the government creates greater interference as to what doctors can and cannot do. Not all doctors are going to want to take the MO from the U.S. government regarding how they administer care. I'm not knocking the Canadian system or the health care system of any country for that matter. Personally, I just don't think such a system is one that is satisfactory for a portion of the population. Also, it is not my intention to talk about health care systems. Health insurance is what's on the table. At least that should be the only thing that's at stake.

Single payer? Perhaps. I could forsee such a situation if the government makes it cheaper for companies to dump their employees off on a public system (pay a tax instead of paying for coverage). However, I think it is far from a sure thing.

I guess I'd attribute all the hubub to differences inherent to our respective countries. Not every citizen in the U.S. is willing to yield to what the government attempts to mandate. I don't think that the vast majority of the citizens of the United States wish any of our citizens to be without health insurance, however this country is quickly on it's way to becoming a third world country and cannot afford another entitlement program at this juncture especially when there are so many that don't contribute to pay the tab.

Kind Regards,
Jay

Almost all of us long for peace and freedom; but very few of us have much enthusiasm for the thoughts, feelings, and actions that make for peace and freedom. - Aldous Huxley

Was the government to prescribe to us our medicine and diet, our bodies would be in such keeping as our souls are now. - Thomas Jefferson